Means for serving cocktails and the like



Dec. 11, 1934. w J. B. NIXON 1,984,030

KEANSFOR SERVING COCKTAILS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1932 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS EOE SERVING COCKTAILS AND THE LIKE My invention relates to means for serving cocktails and the like, as, for example, fruit, juice, crabmeat, and other cocktails, particularly of the character shown and described in an application for patent filed by me August 12, 1932, Serial Number 628,520.

This invention contemplates the employment of a molded or preformed block or blocks of ice or other refrigerant having various contours, with a receptacle in which a cocktail container is positioned. The present invention is particularly directed to a new and improved cocktail service means including areceptacle especially adapted for receiving a block or blocks of ice or other solid refrigerants of various contours, and cooktail containers of various configurations adapted to be positioned in the receptacles.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates applications of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ice receiving receptacle embodying my invention, showing blocks of ice positioned therein;

Fig. 2, a vertical sectional View of the same, showing a food container or glass positioned therein;

Fig. 3, a top plan View similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view of the form of Fig. 3, showing a food container positioned therein;

Fig. 5, a horizontal sectional view taken on line VV of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6 and 7, perspective views of preformed blocks of ice or solid refrigerants.

Referring to the drawing, and first to the form of Fig. 2, 5 designates generally a receptacle in which the pieces or blocks of ice or other solid refrigerant 6, as well as the cocktail or food container 7, are designed to be placed. As illustrated, the receptacle 5 includes a closed bottom or base portion 8, an upper enlarged open-top chamber 9, an inwardly projecting ledge or ice block supporting means 10, and a chamber 11, the latter being disposed between the ledge 10 and the base portion 8. The configuration of the inner faces of the walls forming the upper chamber 9 should be such as to receive with a neat fit the several blocks or pieces of ice 6 and, as shown, the corners of the receptacle are rounded as at 12, to conform with the rounded corners 13 of the ice units.

The number of ice units or blocks 6 employed may be varied, so long as the said pieces are so shaped as to permit, when assembled, a bore 14 adapted to receive the cocktail container '7.

In the form of Fig. 2, it is important that each block or piece of ice be molded with a fiat curved or segmental wall or face, as 15, so that when assembled concentrically the curved walls will receive and support the container 7. This construction assures a close contact between the container and the curved walls of the ice blocks and, further, provides a continuous cool support for said container as the ice melts.

Fig. 2 illustrates how the glass or container is lowered while maintained in contact with the ice as the latter melts. The chamber 11 receives the drippings from the ice.

It will be noted that when the blocks are assembled, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, the bore 14 is of a diameter to initially receive the small bot tom portion of the upwardly tapering or flaring container 7, and that the taper of the container cooperates with the walls of the bore 14 for supporting the container as the ice melts.

Thus, due to the taper of the container, there is a coacting wedging action between the container and the walls of the bore, whereby the contamer is in close contact with the ice for very efficient cooling of the cocktail and the like, and the container is held firmly in the desired position to prevent tipping.

Referring now to the form of Fig. 4, the receptacle 5a is quite similar to the form of Fig. 2. The principal difference between the two forms resides in the configuration of the receiving chamber 9a for the reception of the blocks of ice or other refrigerant of the character particularly shown by the form of Fig. '7 and designated 6a. In this instance, I provide a supporting ledge 10a and cut away the wall of the chamber to form a plurality of ice block receiving spaces having flat angularly disposed walls or surfaces and b, see Fig. 5. In the form under consideration, the receptacle a includes a closed bottom or base portion 8a and a chamber 11a.

The food container of the form of Fig. 4 is designated 7a and, as illustrated and as preferred, this container includes outer fiat tapering faces or surfaces 0 designed to come into contact with a flat face (Z of the blocks 6a when the food container is positioned in the receptacle and down between the assembled blocks. The container as particularly shown by Fig. 4 is in close contact with the inner faces of the blocks and, as in the form of Fig. 2, is designed to be supported thereby.

The blocks of ice of the forms shown may be readily formed in trays employed in electrically operated refrigerators, and while I have shown but two forms, my invention is not to be limited to the use of blocks of the particular forms illustrated. So far as I am aware, I am the first to employ a preformed block or a plurality of blocks of ice or other refrigerant, for use in a receptacle designed to contain said block or blocks, in combination with a food container positioned in the receptacle and in contact with said refrigerant.

Heretofore, it has been the universal practice to employ cracked ice for cocktail service sets, and in the use of cracked ice, melting occurs in the region of contact with the container, causing a loss of cooling efficiency and a tipping of the container, whereas, by means of my invention, the container is always in direct contact with the ice and is positively held and supported thereby to prevent tipping.

I claim:

1. In means for serving cocktails and the like, the combination with a container, of a separable preformed block of ice or solid refrigerant having a surface shaped in conformity with a portion of the outer surface of the container adapted to entirely support the container, and a receptacle for the container and block, said receptacle having a block supporting member upon which the block is positioned while in contact with and supporting the container.

2. In means for serving cocktails and the like, the combination with a container, of a plurality of separable preformed blocks of ice or solid refrigerant each having a surface shaped in conformity with a portion of the outer surface of the container, and a receptacle for the container and blocks, said receptacle formed with spaced blockreceiving portions in Which the blocks are ontered, said blocks being in supporting engagement with the container.

3. In means for serving cocktails and the like, the combination with a container, of a plurality of preformed blocks of ice or solid refrigerant each having a surface shaped in conformity with a portion of the outer surface of the container, and a receptacle for the container and blocks, said receptacle having an interior block-supporting ledge disposed above its bottom portion and upon which the blocks are concentrically assembled.

4. In means for serving cocktails and the like, the combination with an open-top receptacle, of a plurality of separable preformed blocks of ice or solid refrigerant concentrically assembled in the receptacle below its open top, and a container for the cocktail and the like positioned Within the assembled blocks and supported solely thereby, each of said blocks having a surface shaped in conformity with a portion of the outer surface of the container.

5. In means for serving cocktails and the like, the combination with a receptacle, of a plurality of separable preformed blocks of ice or solid refrigerant concentrically assembled entirely within the receptacle, said receptacle having block-supporting means in the interior thereof and above itsbottom portion, and a container for the cocktail and the like positioned within the assembled blocks in contact therewith and sup ported thereby, each of said blocks having a surface shaped in conformity with a portion of the outer surface of the container.

6. In means for serving cocktails and the like, a plurality of segmental ring pieces of ice each having a curved contacting face portion, a receptacle within which the said pieces are concentrically assembled, and a container for the cocktail and the like positioned within the assembled pieces of ice in contact with the said face portions and entirely supported thereby.

JOHN B. NIXON. 

